Eric Bieniemy (Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator)
I originally had Klint Kubiak in mind for this list after the first few weeks of the season. However, his inexperience as an offensive coordinator has been on display recently with his struggles to make in-game adjustments and with some of his play-calling in crucial situations.
He was impressive to start the season and he should find success as a play-caller in the future, but it seems like it is just not his time yet.
Eric Bieniemy is on the opposite end of this spectrum. A gifted offensive mind with the Kansas City Chiefs who has been waiting for his chance to be a head coach for the last few years, Bieniemy should finally get his chance as a head coach this offseason and it might even be in Purple.
Everyone is familiar with the juggernaut offense the Chiefs have had during the past few seasons. While Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is one of the most innovative offensive coaches in NFL history. But a large part of the Chiefs’ success is due to the work Bieniemy, who has been with the team since 2013.
In his first season as offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, Bieniemy’s offense led the NFL in both points and yards. Kansas City also scored the third-most points in NFL history, with 565, in Bieniemy’s first year in charge of the offense.
Becoming the head coach of the Vikings would be a reunion for Bieniemy. He was Minnesota’s running backs coach after leaving UCLA in 2005 and in 2007 and 2008, he helped an up-and-coming running back named Adrian Peterson finish among the league’s rushing leaders with 1,341 yards in 2007 and 1,760 yards in 2008.
In 2010, Bieniemy was named the Vikings assistant head coach for the offense (so close). Not to be confused with assistant to the head coach for the offense.